Shooting near Barcelona sparks calls for stricter gun control

A shooting in La Mina neighborhood of Sant Adrià de Besòs, located on the outskirts of Barcelona, has reignited calls for tougher firearm regulations. 

The incident unfolded on Tuesday evening, when some people fired over 100 shots were several arms on the streets of the neighborhood.  

Despite the scale of the attack, no serious injuries were reported. However, a woman suffered a bruise after a stray bullet ricocheted and entered her home through a window. 

While no arrests have been made, several reports suggest that the shooting stemmed from a dispute between clans involved in drug trafficking.

It is believed the attack was intended as a show of force linked to ongoing tensions between the clans.  

The La Mina neighborhood, situated on the border between Barcelona and Sant Adrià de Besòs, has long been associated with social challenges, including marginalization and poverty. 

The town's mayor Filo Cañete said that the perpetrators are believed to be young people, some even minors, with "easy access" to firearms. She called for "firm action" to address the situation. 

On Thursday, president Salvador Illa visited the area alongside interior minister Núria Parlón and the director general of the Catalan police, Mossos d’Esquadra, Josep Lluís Trapero.

The government announced a significant police deployment in the area, with increased patrols across all shifts to ensure 24-hour security in the neighborhood. 

By Friday morning, the neighborhood saw an increased police presence, although authorities noted that La Mina has always received special police attention. 

The incident has renewed calls for tougher penalties for illegal gun possession and to address the easy availability of such weapons. 

Shortly after the shooting, the conservative People's Party called the event "extremely serious" and urged the government to address what it called the "alarming use of firearms" in Catalonia to prevent similar incidents.

Interior Minister Núria Parlón addressed the issue on Friday, expressing her support for stricter punishments for illegal firearm possession.

"As a country, we face the challenge of improving and toughening penalties for possessing firearms illegally," she said.

Catalan police have reported a growing number of firearms seized during operations against organized crime. Many of these weapons are long guns, such as war rifles, automatic firearms, and submachine guns.

In fact, 64% of firearms confiscated by police in Catalonia are long guns, according to government data. The same report revealed that in 2023, nearly 1,200 firearms were seized across the region.